How to Get Facebook Pixel Code

Getting your Facebook Pixel code is the non-negotiable first step to unlocking powerful advertising data on Meta. This snippet of code transforms your campaigns from guesswork into a data-driven strategy. This guide gives you the clear, step-by-step process for creating, finding, and installing your Facebook Pixel code without the technical headaches.

What Exactly is the Facebook Pixel (and Why Should You Care)?

Think of the Facebook Pixel (now technically called the Meta Pixel) as a tiny, invisible employee you place on your website. Its job is to watch what your visitors do and report that information back to your Meta Ads Manager. It's just a small piece of code, but the insights it gathers are enormous.

When someone clicks your Instagram ad, lands on your site, browses a few product pages, and then adds an item to their cart, the Pixel sees all of this. It connects those actions back to the specific ad a person saw, giving you a clear picture of what’s working.

Here’s why this is one of the most powerful tools in your marketing toolkit:

• Track Ad Conversions: You can finally answer the question, "Did my ads actually lead to sales?" The Pixel tracks meaningful actions (called "events") like purchases, form submissions, and newsletter sign-ups that happen as a direct result of your ads.
• Build Powerful Custom Audiences: This is where the magic really happens. The Pixel allows you to create highly specific audiences for retargeting campaigns. For example, you can create an audience of everyone who visited your website in the last 30 days, people who viewed a specific product page, or even people who added an item to their cart but didn’t complete the purchase.
• Optimize Your Ads for Better Results: Once the Pixel has enough data, Facebook's algorithm gets smarter. It starts to understand the type of person who is most likely to convert on your site. The platform can then "optimize" your ad delivery to show your ads to other people who share similar characteristics, dramatically improving your campaign performance and lowering your cost per result.

Without the Pixel, you're essentially advertising with a blindfold on. With it, you gain the clarity needed to make smarter budget decisions and build a genuine connection with your audience.

Before You Start: A Quick Prerequisite Checklist

Before jumping into Meta's dashboard, let's make sure you have a few things in order. This will make the process much smoother.

• A Website You Can Edit: You’ll need the ability to add code to your website’s header. If you use a platform like Shopify, WordPress, or Squarespace, this is usually pretty straightforward. If you have a custom-built site, you may need help from a developer.
• A Meta Business Suite Account: The days of running ads from a personal profile are long gone. The Meta Business Suite (formerly Facebook Business Manager) is the central hub for all your professional marketing activities. If you don't have one, it's free to set one up.
• Admin Access: You need to be an admin on your Meta Business Suite account to create and manage pixels. If you're working with an agency or a team member, just double-check your permission levels.

How to Get Your Facebook Pixel Code: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to get your code? Follow these steps carefully. The Meta dashboard changes often, but the core process remains the same.

Step 1: Navigate to Meta Events Manager

First, log in to your Meta Business Suite. In the left-hand navigation menu, click on the icon for “All tools” (it looks like a hamburger menu with nine dots). A menu will slide out. Look for the "Advertise" section and click on Events Manager. This is your command center for all things related to tracking.

Step 2: Connect a New Data Source

If you've never created a pixel before, you’ll likely see a prominent green button inviting you to "Connect data." Click it. You’ll be presented with several options for what you want to connect, such as Web, App, Offline, or CRM. Since we're tracking a website, select Web and then click "Connect."

Step 3: Name Your Pixel

Here, you just need to give your pixel a name. It’s best to keep this simple and recognizable - your business name or website URL is perfect. Remember, you typically only need one pixel for your entire business, even if you have several ad accounts. Think of the pixel being tied to your website, not a specific campaign.

After naming your pixel, click “Create pixel.” Meta will then ask for your website URL so it can check for easy integration options. Enter your URL and click "Check."

Step 4: Choose How You’ll Install the Code

This is the most important step, where you’ll actually get the code for your site. Meta will give you two main options. A third option may appear: "Email Instructions." This option just sends directions about Option A or B to the developer.

Option A: Manual Installation ("Install code manually")

Choose this option if you are comfortable editing your website’s code or if your website platform doesn't have a direct, "one-click" integration with Meta. This method gives you the full block of code.

1. Click "Install code manually."
2. A pop-up window will appear with a large box containing your pixel's "base code." There will be a green button that says "Copy code." Click it.

This is the famous Facebook Pixel code snippet! It will look something like this:

<,!-- Meta Pixel Code -->,
<,script>,
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return,n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)},
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n,n.push=n,n.loaded=!0,n.version='2.0',
n.queue=[],t=b.createElement(e),t.async=!0,
t.src=v,s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0],
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',
'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'),
fbq('init', 'YOUR_PIXEL_ID'),
fbq('track', 'PageView'),
<,/script>,
<,noscript>,<,img height="1" width="1" style="display:none"
src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=YOUR_PIXEL_ID&,ev=PageView&,noscript=1"
/>,<,/noscript>,
<,!-- End Meta Pixel Code -->,

Your job now is to paste this code into the header section of your website's code, just before the closing <,/head>, tag. It needs to be on every single page of your site. If you use a website builder, look for a custom scripts or header code section in your site's settings. If you’re on WordPress, a simple plugin like "Insert Headers and Footers" lets you do this easily without needing to edit theme files directly.

Option B: Partner Integration ("Check for partner")

Choose this option if you're using a common platform like Shopify, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or BigCommerce. This is the easier, no-code-required method.

1. Click "Check for partner."
2. Select your website platform from the list.
3. Meta will then provide you with a specific, step-by-step tutorial for that platform. In most cases, you won’t even need the full code snippet. Instead, you'll just need your Pixel ID.

To find your Pixel ID, go back to your Events Manager dashboard. On the left side, under "Data Sources," you'll see the pixel you just named. Your Pixel ID is the long string of numbers located directly underneath its name.

For example, in Shopify, you’d go to your store’s Online Store >, Preferences, find the "Facebook Pixel" section, and simply paste your Pixel ID into the field. The platform handles the rest.

Step 5: Verify Your Pixel is Firing Correctly

Don't skip this step! Installing the code is only half the battle, you need to make sure it's actually working.

• Use the "Test Events" Tool: Back in Events Manager, click on the "Test Events" tab. Enter your website URL and click “Open Website.” As you click around your site, you should see activity appear in the Test Events tool, starting with a "PageView" event.
• Install the Meta Pixel Helper Chrome Extension: This is my favorite method. It's a free browser extension from Meta. Once installed, just navigate to your website. If the pixel is working, the extension's icon will turn blue and show you how many events were detected on the page. Clicking the icon will give you details on each event, including your Pixel ID and whether any errors occurred.

Once you see a green checkmark next to the "PageView" event in the Pixel Helper, you've successfully installed the base code!

What's Next? Setting Up Specific Events

Getting the base code installed is a fantastic start. By default, it tracks a "PageView" event every time someone loads a page on your site. But the real power of the Pixel comes from tracking more specific actions.

These are called standard events, and they have predefined names that Meta understands. Common examples include:

• AddToCart: Someone adds a product to their shopping cart.
• InitiateCheckout: Someone starts the checkout process.
• Purchase: Someone completes a purchase.
• Lead: Someone submits a form.

The easiest way to set these up without writing more code is with Meta's Event Setup Tool. From your pixel’s overview page in Events Manager, click the "Add Events" button, then choose "From the Pixel." Select the "Open Event Setup Tool" option, enter your URL, and it will open your website with a visual editor overlay. You can then simply click on buttons (like "Add to Cart" or "Buy Now") and assign the corresponding event to them. It's a game-changer for non-coders and lets you start tracking business-critical actions right away.

Final Thoughts

Getting your Meta Pixel code in place is the foundational step for any serious advertising effort on Facebook and Instagram. By following the steps in Events Manager, you can create a pixel, choose the best installation method for your website, and start collecting the powerful data needed to optimize campaigns and reconnect with your audience.

Once your pixel helps you understand your audience, building content that truly works becomes the next big step. At Postbase, we designed our platform specifically for the content that drives engagement today: short-form video. Our visual calendar and rock-solid scheduling for Reels, TikToks, and Shorts make it easy to plan and publish consistently across every platform. We help you turn those sharp pixel insights into a content strategy that connects, all without the clunky limitations of older social media tools.